Philly Firm Recruits Poker Players

Leading financial institution Susquehanna International Group, LLP (SIG) is hosting a poker tournament this weekend that features some of America's top senior college students. The 80 participants in the tournament are candidates for the firm's technology and trading development programs and come from many of the country's top learning institutions like Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, and MIT.

If Susquehanna's name seems familiar, it is because it is the place of work for two-time 2006 World Series of Poker bracelet winner William Chen. Holding a PhD in Mathematics from UC Berkely in California, Chen works as a quantitative analyst for the financial services firm. Encouraged to play the game by a firm that was founded by poker players, Chen uses his gifts for game theory and analysis both at the tables and on the job.

According to Susquehanna director of recruitment Todd Simkin, playing poker helps the company reach out to potential workers while providing insight into the way potential candidates think.

"We value rigorous analytical thinking and believe that its application is critical to success in trading as well as in developing technology to support it," he said in a recent press release.

In addition to possibly earning a chance for a spot with the prestigious firm, the winner of the tournament will collect $25,000. Second- and third-place finishers will win $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Most Viewed Articles